Victory of contrasts
In this third meeting between ECC and Beausoleil CC of the 2014 season on looking at the score book one would have the understanding that this was a comprehensive victory for Entrecasteaux – and so it was. The visitors to St Vallier trounced the opposition by 46 runs in this 35 over fixture but underneath this victory are some hard lessons to be learned and it is regretful that half way through the season Entrecasteaux are still making too many basic errors.
In winning the toss Clifford Gregory elected to bat only to find one of his openers back in the pavilion after one ball had been bowled. Roshan Perera had tapped a long hop outside the off stump to a grateful cover point who was very willing to send Perera back to the pavilion with his tail between his legs. No doubt Perera received the rollicking he deserved from his skipper but in being replaced by Chaminda Perera(12) the visitors remained positive. Chaminda went about his business in his usual authoritative manner and in supporting the other opener Glen Burrell (55) the partnership had raced to 23 in the 6th over when uncharacteristically Chaminda was bowled by Ravi (4-0-19-1) who was finding some away swing which deceived Chaminda.
This brought Jack Halstead (75) to the crease so introducing a very positive contrast to the match. Halstead and Burrell were none too rash, waiting in the main for the bad ball to come along, which they punished and so kept the score ticking along. After being together for 7 overs they attained the 50 partnership, after 17 the 100 partnership was reached and finally after 1 hour and 20 minutes with 120 runs to this magnificent pairing Burrell was bowled by Yoges (7-1-34-3).
Andrew Halstead (4), the senior member of the Halstead quadruple playing, was unlucky to be adjudged LBW, Ed Harland (8) did not fair much better and was bowled by Kavi Karunarathnage (6-0-31-1) who had suffered a disastrous first over which cost him 16 runs when Halstead J. was in his pomp. But it was Yoges who finally had Halstead well caught on the deep mid wicket boundary so terminating a fine effort. Cliff Gregory (23) played a useful innings before being caught at mid-off from the bowling of Ubeynath (7-1-33-2) and was heard muttering, somewhat bizarrely, about moving himself up the order as he came off the pitch. This left Yannick Perera (1), Indika Suresh (5 not out), Guy Halstead (0 not out) and Hugo Halstead (did not bat) to close the Entrecasteaux innings on a total of 187 runs.
At just over 5.3 runs required per over it was a definite possibility on this small ground but the Beausoleil batsmen never threatened. Gregory(4-1-13-0) opened but seems to have lost his action and returned wicketless. Roshan Perera (7-0-23-2) could have had 4 or 5 wickets had not his wicket keeper’s hands been so porous – apart from the wides it was a fine and customary performance with the ball but he was rightly malcontented by the lack of support that he received. He had taken the all important wickets of Roshan (1) and Yoges (23) who had looked in fine form. Kalith Fernando (14) was well caught by Glen Burrell at deep mid-on which was to be the first of his 3 fine catches in the same position, this one off the bowling of Chaminda Perera (7-1-30-3).
Baldev(0) had no sooner arrived before departing, being caught at mid-wicket off the bowling of Chaminda. It was then that Beausoleil showed some fight in their batting, with Janit (14), skipper Somnath Banerjee (15), Tyron (34) and Kavi Karunarathnage (16), who bats in the same manner as his injured brother, putting together partnerships of 35 and then 50, before each time loosing 2 wickets in succession. The former to Chaminda and Glen Burrell (7-0-41-1), who would admit to having being bowled for at least 2 overs too many, the latter to Indika Suresh (6-0-13-2) whose seemingly unthreatening right arm over the wicket must be much more threatening that it seemed.
Yannick Perera (2.3-0-19-2) claimed 2 wickets, both good catches, Burrell again and then Gregory at deep mid-wicket to wrap the Beausoleil innings, which with the 22 extras (third highest scorer)had totaled 141, but he does need to focus more on the off stump.
So this victory of contrast was complete, a terrific batting partnership between Burrell and Halstead and some not so terrific batting performances. Some good bowling and some fine catches but oh dear, too many missed catches and too sloppy in moving the ball between the wickets – there is room for plenty of improvement! But what cannot be denied is that for all involved much fun and amusement was had.
Thanks to Maurice Mitchem for umpiring.
ECC: Gregory, Perera C., Burrell, Perera R., Harland, Perera Y., Suresh, Halstead A.,Halstead J.,Halstead G., Halstead H.